chapter 3

Chapter 3: Natural Characteristics

In order to plan for the future, it is important to carefully consider the natural characteristics of the Town Center. Natural features provide unique attributes to the area. Likewise, natural limitations will have an impact on building opportunities within the Town Center.

Inventory of Environmentally Sensitive Areas

The Suamico River

The Suamico River winds its way through the southern portion of the Town Center. It is an important focal point of the Town Center.

Historically, the river influenced the original settlement of the area as a fishing village by Great Lakes commercial fisherman. Today, the river is used mostly for recreational purposes.

There is great potential to enhance the riverfront areas that wind through the Town Center by providing a boardwalk and linear park features to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the river. Presently, many areas of the Suamico River are hidden from view by commercial establishments. Furthermore, park facilities along the river are not connected to one another. Great potential exists to revitalize the waterfront for recreational, commercial, and tourist benefit.

Wetland and Flood Plain Areas

Wetlands act as a natural filtering system for sediment and nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrates. They also serve as a natural buffer, protecting shorelines and stream banks from erosion. Wetlands are essential in providing wildlife habitat, flood control, and groundwater recharge. Due to these benefits, county and state regulations place limitations on the development and use of wetlands and shorelands. Wetlands in the Town Center are shown on the Natural Features Map.

Floodplains serve many important functions related to flood and erosion control, water quality, groundwater recharge and fish and wildlife habitats. The Natural Features Map illustrates floodplain areas found in the Town Center. The map clearly shows that the floodplain areas follow the Suamico River. Generally, areas susceptible to flooding are considered unsuitable for development due to potential health risks and property damage.

Woodlands

Prior to settlement, the vegetation of Brown County was mostly forest and oak savanna. As people moved to the area, most of the forests were cleared for agricultural crops. Fortunately, several areas of contiguous woodlands remain in the Town of Suamico. In the Town Center, the most prominent woodland areas are located along Veteran’s Avenue. Given the dense tree cover in the area, Veteran’s Avenue has a "northwoods feel" about it. The woodlands in the area must be preserved to the greatest extent practical in order to retain this character.

Wildlife Habitat

Resident observation is the best available local resource to identify wildlife habitat areas. Primary wildlife habitat areas correspond to forested areas, wetlands, and the Suamico River frontage illustrated on the Natural Features Map. These areas provide food for deer, raccoons, fox, herons, bald eagles, and other small creatures common in the area. The Suamico River is also a major waterfowl, fish spawning, reptile and amphibian habitat area.

Wildlife corridors are an integral part of wildlife habitat. These corridors provide vital connections between habitat areas. The Town of Suamico considers wildlife corridors an important part of the natural environment and supports efforts to maintain these areas through the Town Center and beyond. In the Town Center, a trail network can help to maintain wildlife corridors through the area.

Soil Features and Slope

Several different soil types are found in the Town Center. Each soil type has different characteristics pertaining to development. The most common soil type in the Town Center is the Shawano loamy fine sand, 2 to 6 percent slope. What follows is a description of the soil types found in the Town Center. For any future development a detailed- site-specific soil survey is required.

Soil Type	Characteristics	Location in Town Center
SfB Shawano loamy fine sand 2 to 6 percent slope	Shawano soils are deep and excessively drained. Natural fertility and the content of organic matter is low. This soil is subject to blowing. Shawano soils present only slight limitations for building.	Throughout the Town Center
Au Alluvial Land	Alluvial land is well-drained to somewhat poorly drained land below and adjacent to the Suamico River. Due to severe limitations, building is not recommended on Alluvial land.	Suamico River Bottom and Surrounding Floodplain
TeA Tedrow loamy fine sand 0 to 3 percent slopes	Tedrow soils consists of deep, somewhat poorly drained soils. Natural fertility and organic matter content are both low. Runoff is slow and wetness can be a problem. Due to the seasonal high water table some moderate construction limitations exist. Buildings with basements will face severe seasonal wetness.	Adjacent to Veteran’s Avenue; East of Velp Avenue
Rs Roscommon loamy fine sand	This soil consists of deep, poorly drained soils. Natural fertility is low and the content of organic matter is high. Runoff is very slow and the water table is very high. Buildings with basements in this soil will be subject to wetness. The soil has a moderate bearing capacity.	Strip perpendicular to Veterans Avenue Near CTH B
SnB Sisson silt loam 2 to 6 percent slopes	Sisson soils are deep, well-drained soils found on glacial lake planes. Natural fertility is medium and the content of organic matter is low. Runoff is slow. Erosion is the main hazard associated with Sisson soils. Moderate building limitations due moderate bearing capacity exist.	Vickery Village Area
BrB Boyer loamy fine sand 2 to 6 percent slopes	Boyer soils are well-drained, moderately deep to sand or sand and gravel. These soils have low available water capacity and moderate permeability. Natural fertility and organic matter content are also low. Slight limitations for building exist in Boyer soils.	Vickery Village Area

Source: Brown County Soil Survey

Natural Resource Regulations

To protect the natural resources within the Town Center, many different regulations are in effect. Brown County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Town of Suamico enforce these regulations.

Brown County, through is shoreland/wetland zoning ordinance, prevents building in the wetland areas in the Town Center and areas immediately adjacent to the Suamico River.

The Town of Suamico has several ordinances in effect to protect the Suamico River. Specifically, the Town has a speed limit no wake ordinance in effect as well as a no pollution ordinance to protect the river.

Complimenting these local regulations, the WDNR has additional regulations and permit requirements in effect that impact the Suamico River.